Seven Days just published Mike Ives’ article about the ongoing vandalism in Burlington and the way residents are stepping up to address it through Front Porch Forum. Snippets…
On August 24, Jeff Kaufman rolled out of bed and noticed the letters “PH” had been scrawled into one of his window air-conditioning units. After photographing six similarly damaged units in his Old North End neighborhood, he posted a comment to the online newsletter, “Front Porch Forum.”…
Ten thousand Chittenden County residents subscribe to about 130 neighborhood Front Porch Forums… Wood-Lewis said that the forum has always been effective as a “neighborhood watch” tool. At a basic level, it encourages residents to take a stand against speeders, burglars and other low-level offenders. As enrollment climbs, however, subscribers are becoming “more empowered and aggressive about being involved and finding out what’s going on,” he said.
Just stumbled across this exchange posted on AllExperts.com… (thanks David!)…
Expert: David Beckett
Date: 8/27/2008
Subject: Temporary HousingQuestion
Hi David – I read your answers about Burlington and my husband & I decided to move here from Los Angeles a few months ago… We love it here. I am French and we need to go back to France for family reasons from November through March 2009 and I would hate to leave the house empty for a host of reasons.Ideally we could rent the place (we have a beautiful 4 bedroom house in the Hill section) but I am not sure where to post an ad. The other option would be to have a professional come on a regular basis to ensure that everything is OK (i.e. heating still on). Do you have any recommendations for either solutions?
I assume we are not the only people to leave Vermont in the winter, I was just curious if there were any obvious resources available that we are not aware of.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Answer
Hello Isabelle – Glad you like Burlington! … You might also post a note on your “Front Porch Forum” email list, without your address of course, just asking if neighbors have people to recommend as short term renters or housesitters. If you haven’t gotten onto your neighborhood “Front Porch Forum” yet – I recommend it. You can read archives and sign up at http://www.frontporchforum.comPlease feel free to contact me directly – I’m happy to help. I live in your neighborhood.
With so much local interest in Front Porch Forum, I love to accept offers to engage an audience. Here’s one that’s coming right up…
Mon., Sept. 15, 7pm — Connecting with your Essex Neighbors using Front Porch Forum-Michael Wood-Lewis will share tips and stories about how neighborhoods and towns across Chittenden County are making great use of Front Porch Forum. This free local service hosts 130 online neighborhood forums and more than 10,000 Chittenden County households already subscribe, including 700 in Essex Town and Essex Junction Village. Clearly identified nearby neighbors use FPF to find lost pets, report car break-ins, organize block parties, share traffic concerns and offer solutions, recommend plumbers and much more. Sign up and learn more at http://frontporchforum.com
Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, Vermont 05452 (802) 878-6955
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more